Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced Wednesday that the city will offer COVID-19 vaccines free to residents at Chattanooga area community centers throughout the summer, according to a news release.
The walk-in and same-day vaccination sessions will be held by the city in partnership with LifeSpring and will be monitored based on feedback and demand, according to officials.
"As I promised on the campaign trail, we are now launching an effort to make COVID-19 vaccines available in every neighborhood by opening up our community centers to residents seeking protection from this virus," Kelly said in a released statement.
"By bringing these lifesaving vaccines directly into the communities we serve, we will help protect our most vulnerable neighbors and speed our city's path not just to recovery but to greater shared prosperity."
Offering vaccines at area community centers, familiar locations that are convenient for residents, is a strategy the city hopes will protect more Chattanoogans against new COVID-19 strains such as the Delta variant, the release states.
"Even though it feels like we're getting back to normal, the Delta variant of this virus is rapidly spreading among the unvaccinated population and may be on track to become the dominant strain in the country and in our community," said Mary Lambert, the city's director of community health.
The Mayor's Office of Community Health is also working on additional initiatives to spur vaccination and ensure residents' safety.
City vaccine dates, locations and time slots:
* June 16 - Hixson Community Center from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* June 23 - John A Patten from 10 a.m. to noon
* June 23 - Westside from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* June 30 - Washington Hills from 10 a.m. to noon
* June 30 - Glenwood from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* July 7 - East Chatt from 10 a.m. to noon
* July 7 - North Chatt from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* July 14 - Eastdale from 10 a.m. to noon
* July 14 - North River Civic Center from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* July 21 - Avondale from 10 a.m. to noon
* July 21 - Heritage House from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* July 28 - Shepherd from 10 a.m. to noon
* July 28 - Eastgate Senior Center from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* August 4 - Carver from 10 a.m. to noon
* August 4 - Hixson (2nd shot) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* August 11 - Brainerd from 10 a.m. to noon
* August 11 - Westside (2nd shot) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* August 18 - South Chatt from 10 a.m. to noon
* August 18 - Tyner from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
* August 25 - John A Patten (2nd shot) from 10 a.m. to noon
* August 25 - Glenwood (2nd shot) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Compiled by Kiara Green